Process and apparatus for the reversible adsorption of carbon dioxide

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10,110, 210, 310 ) for the separation and recovery of CO 2 , from air, by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent for gas adsorption. The apparatus has a plurality of adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart layers ( 24,124, 224, 324 ), each having a stiff frame supporting a flexible, gas-permeable fabric enclosure for the sorbent. The gas inlet ( 14,114, 214, 314 ) and outlet ( 16,116, 216, 316 ) of the apparatus are on its axially opposite sides, and each layer ( 24,124, 224, 324 ) extending axially within the apparatus. The recovered CO 2 can be either supplied to an enclosed space, recycled to an enclosed space, from which the CO 2 had been separated, or vented to the exterior of the latter enclosed space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for the separation and optional recovery of CO 2  from a gas stream, by a cyclic adsorption/desorption process using a loose particulate sorbent for gas adsorption; wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a sealable enclosure having an inlet for a gas stream and an outlet for a purified gas stream on axially opposite sides, and a vacuum chamber featuring the inlet for a gas stream and the outlet for a purified gas stream on axially opposite sides, the sealable enclosure further comprising: 
 one or more stacks of cartridges wherein each stack has a plurality of adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart cartridges, 
 wherein each cartridge extending axially in the sealable enclosure parallel to the gas stream through the sealable enclosure between the inlet and outlet and forming a serpentine flow path for the gas stream through said sealable enclosure, and wherein each cartridge has a gas permeable fabric enclosure mounted on a frame and forming a cavity within the frame for the loose particulate sorbent, wherein each frame has two frame members, 
 wherein the vacuum chamber comprises 
 (1) pairs of axially-extending first and second baffles, provided adjacent to, and on laterally opposite sides of, each of the inlet and the outlet of the vacuum chamber,
 wherein the pair of first baffles direct movement of an initial gas stream from the inlet toward the outlet and also direct movement of a gas stream, from which a CO 2  gaseous component has been partially removed, laterally away from the inlet and 
 wherein the pair of second baffles direct movement of a final gas stream, from which the CO 2  gaseous component has been removed, toward the outlet and also prevent movement of gas, from which the CO 2  gaseous component has been partially removed, laterally toward, and outward of, the outlet, and 
 
 (2) one or more laterally- and vertically-extending third and fourth baffles provided between the inlet and the outlet,
 wherein the third and fourth baffles direct movement of gas, from which the CO 2  gaseous component has been partially removed, laterally away from the inlet in opposite lateral directions and laterally toward the outlet in opposite lateral directions, and 
 wherein the pairs of first and second baffles, and the third and fourth baffles extend vertically from a bottom wall to a top wall of the vacuum chamber and provide a serpentine flow channel for movement of gas through the vacuum chamber. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each cartridge also extends vertically in the sealable enclosure between top and bottom walls of the sealable enclosure. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein one or more cartridges are provided with a heat exchange element. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein one or more cartridges are provided with a heat exchange element, in a form of an electrical heating element. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each frame member has a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending across open portions of said frame member and attached to its opposite sides. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a pair of said reinforcing ribs extend diagonally across the frame member and attached to each other where they cross. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the gas permeable fabric enclosure comprises metal or metal alloy wires, or a woven or nonwoven textile material based on polymeric fibers or yarns. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gas permeable fabric enclosure comprises metal or metal alloy wires, or a woven textile material based on a woven fabric made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and/or polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the frame of each cartridge is substantially flat and is open at its middle and has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the sealable enclosure comprises a serpentine channel extending through the one or more stacks of cartridges for the flow of a gas stream through the sealable enclosure. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum chamber comprises at least 10 cartridges provided between the inlet and outlet of the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum chamber comprises at least 20 cartridges provided between the inlet and outlet of the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the vacuum chamber comprises between 25 and 40 cartridges provided between the inlet and outlet of the vacuum chamber.